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'Riddick 3' Titled 'Riddick'; New Set Photos &amp; Synopsis Revealed

Following a temporary production shutdown in 2011, the third installment in the Chronicles of Riddick series - which Universal is now officially referring to as simply Riddick - has begun filming once again. Vin Diesel is back in black (goggles) as the titular ex-convict with augmented vision, and has been treating fans with set photos that feature the actor in costume, on the sci-fi action/thriller threequel's set.

Today, we have two additional images of Diesel, striking poses on the Riddick set - along with the film's official plot synopsis and complete cast list (via Universal Pictures' press release).

Read on for the studio-sanctioned description of the Riddick storyline:

The infamous Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he's encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. The first ship to arrive carries a new breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won't leave the planet without Riddick's head as their trophy.

Now, check out two new photos of Diesel on the Riddick set, below:

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Jordi Mollà (Colombiana) plays the aforementioned "arrogant" merc ship captain, while stars such as Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and Bokeem Woodbine (Devil) portray, respectively, a mercenary and bounty hunter, who both butt heads with Disel's onscreen counterpart. Karl Urban reprises his roles as Necromonger Commander Vaako from Chronicles of Riddick, while the remainder of the cast includes burly types such as WWE/WWF vet Dave Bautista and Raoul Trujillo (Apocalypto, True Blood) as the "lethal and violent" warriors who are all vying to take Riddick out.

Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick writer/director David Twohy - who also wrote the story for the video short Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury - is once again the main creative force behind Riddick 3. The threequel is reportedly being fashioned as a gritty sci-fi action ride that is both leaner and meaner (re: R-Rated) than the costly Chronicles of Riddick, as well as more of an adrenaline-fueled romp than the original Pitch Black.

It sounds as though Riddick should deliver on that promise, while also managing to please the loyal fanbase - and maybe even widening interest in this franchise, similar to what Fast & Furious managed to do for the other major film series headlined by Diesel.